BISPCal

BISPCal The Berkeley International Study Program (BISP) provides short-term study abroad opportunities for visiting international students.

The Berkeley International Study Program provides short-term study abroad opportunities on a space availability basis for visiting international students to study at UC Berkeley for one or two semesters. BISP students pay fees to the UC Berkeley Extension office, who also provide the necessary student visa documents and infrastructure needed to earn credit in UC Berkeley courses that can transfer

back to visiting international students’ home university. BISP students take courses side-by-side with UC Berkeley students each semester on a space-availability basis. BISP students’ academic studies are enriched by their experiences at UCB, and the university’s professors and students value having international applicants join the class. There are two ways to apply to the Berkeley International Study Program, either through an agreement with your home institution, or as an independent student. Please refer to the following website for details and application guidelines and deadlines:
https://bisp.berkeley.edu/

Congrats to all Spring 2026 UC Berkeley graduates, including Cultural Peer Mentors Jen, Diana, and Sebastian! Thank you ...
05/22/2026

Congrats to all Spring 2026 UC Berkeley graduates, including Cultural Peer Mentors Jen, Diana, and Sebastian! Thank you for everything you have done for the BISP community! While we will miss you terribly, we are so excited for your next adventures! 🐻👩‍🎓💙💛

05/21/2026

Check out the 2nd part of Edgar’s video as he shares more about Data Science 100: Principles and Techniques of Data Science (his favorite course) and how it allows him to apply machine learning models to real-world data.

What does Edgar do outside of class?
Watch the video as he shares his reliable San Francisco getaway to balance his life outside of the classroom.

Way to go Edgar, thank you for taking a chance and joining us here at UC Berkeley!

05/21/2026

Hi everyone, please say hello to study abroad student Edgar (B.Sc. in Data Science and Mathematics Engineering) from ITESM!

Edgar’s video covers UC Berkeley’s academic structure, instructors’ office hours, and how UCB compares to his home university at Tec de Monterrey.

Meet Vamika from O.P. Jindal Global University!Vamika remarks that studying at UC Berkeley through BISP has been a dream...
05/19/2026

Meet Vamika from O.P. Jindal Global University!

Vamika remarks that studying at UC Berkeley through BISP has been a dream come true, calling it both the top public university in the U.S. and a global leader in her field, environment and sustainable development.

“The courses that I took at Berkeley, particularly ESPM 116B: Grassland & Woodland Ecology and GLOBAL 123L: Perspectives for Sustainable Rural Development entirely changed my perspective on environmental issues and their solutions. The courses allowed me to analyse the issues at a system level rather than on the surface. By the end of the semester, my academic goals were very clear to me.”

She shares that even something as simple as a 25-minute walk to class became a highlight, thanks to the campus’s scenic views.

Her advice: “I would advise living or taking a meal plan at International House at UC Berkeley. Just staying here makes you open to new experiences and cross-cultural interactions. And the meal options are diverse to accommodate international preferences.”

One word to describe her time at Berkeley?

“Transformative”

05/15/2026

🐻 What a Semester to Remember! 🐻

As the spring semester comes to a close, we're looking back at all the amazing memories our students and Cultural Peer Mentors (CPMs) created together. From exploring the Bay Area and diving into new classes to making lifelong friendships and achieving academic milestones, it's been a journey full of growth and unforgettable moments. 🌍💫

To our beloved study abroad students: thank you for bringing your unique perspectives and energy to Berkeley. You’ve made this semester truly special! 💙💛

Tag your BISP friends and share your favorite moments below! ✨👇



Video description: photos and short videos of study abroad students at the University of California, Berkeley, as they attend program events and Cultural Peer Mentors' (CPMs) outings throughout spring 2026.

Congratulations to marketing assistant Daphne Ledezma, who is graduating this month with her B.A. in Psychology and Me...
05/14/2026

Congratulations to marketing assistant Daphne Ledezma, who is graduating this month with her B.A. in Psychology and Media Studies. We applaud Daphne for this remarkable accomplishment! Daphne’s superb design sense, attention to detail, and admirable interpersonal skills collaboratively kept our social media content humming all year! She also brought to life BISP’s “person on the street” interviews, which has proven to be a popular format.

Daphne shares “I studied psychology and media studies here at Cal, and my highlight in psychology was getting to be a research assistant for some cool labs, my favorite being a sleep study that I helped out with. For my Media Studies major, my highlight was being able to get an internship at the Alameda Fair over the summer, as I got to be part of such a fun marketing experience. I loved being part of the BISP marketing unit as I got to interview some really cool people and got to work alongside a great, supportive team!!”

Please share a high five with Daphne! Woohoo!

05/14/2026

Meet Bridget & Vilde, two and I-House alumni whose experiences turned them from roommates into friends across continents. 🌍🏡

In our latest YouTube video, they share memories from life at I-House, their time in the Berkeley International Study Program, and how their experiences in Berkeley continue to shape them after returning home. 💛

Watch the full video on YouTube | link in the comments below.

If you are a university looking to send study abroad students who want to "experience brilliance" at the top-ranked Univ...
05/11/2026

If you are a university looking to send study abroad students who want to "experience brilliance" at the top-ranked University of California, Berkeley, meet with staff Jenny Cornet-Carrillo or Louise Hon at !

The Berkeley International Study Program (BISP), UC Berkeley is a unique one-directional fee-based program with high-touch academic and social support. With coursework in 80+ departments across campus, BISP students take their courses side-by-side with UCB degree-seeking students.

📅 Contact us at [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

🔍 Discover why Berkeley is the ultimate destination for transformative international education!
Learn more about BISP | Link in the comments below

05/06/2026

🌍 Dive deeper into your study abroad options through UC Berkeley’s Special Focus Program! Congratulations to our Spring ‘26 BISP Special Focus Program Symposium presenters:

Masod Yousufi, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) | “How Do Material Choices in Infrastructure Relate to Climate Change?”

Jie-Rong (Jerome) Lin, National Taiwan University (NTU) | “Rethinking Selfhood and Body Schema Through Transgender Perspectives”

Nanaki Singh, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) | “India’s Foreign Trade Policy (2025)”

Jia Jun Lye, Singapore Management University (SMU) | “Choosing an Ecosystem: Comparing Singapore and Bay Area Startups”

Presenters shared amazing, thought-provoking projects during the end-of-semester Symposium that reflected their passions and academic growth. Way to go!

What’s the Special Focus Program?

Visiting students can explore eight (8) thematically organized coursework topics, including:

-Climate Change and the Environment;
-Current and Historical Politics;
-Education, Society, and the Student;
-Global Economies and Entrepreneurship;
-Health and Society;
-Inequalities and Social Justice;
-Language and Culture;
-Media, Communication, and Storytelling.

📚 Ready to join? Learn more about the BISP Special Focus Program at UC Berkeley. Link in the profile.

05/05/2026

BISP Bobapalooza checked all the boxes! 🧋🧋 thanks to those of you that stopped by, what a blast!

Meet Mats Ouchiian, a B.Sc. in IT-Systems Engineering from the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), University of Potsdam. 🇩🇪...
05/05/2026

Meet Mats Ouchiian, a B.Sc. in IT-Systems Engineering from the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), University of Potsdam. 🇩🇪

What surprises him most about studying at Berkeley? Mats remarks “How amazingly open and friendly everybody is. Even though I am usually more introverted, it is super easy getting to know people here and talking to them. People will even shout “Go bears!” when they see you wearing Cal gear, even in other cities.”🐻💙

When asked how campus feels compared to the University of Potsdam, Mats shared “The Berkeley campus just feels incredibly lively and active. Walking across Sproul Plaza, you are surrounded by student club booths, and as you toward Sather Gate, it feels like a stream of new faces is coming your way – every single day!”

His advice:
Just apply and see where the journey takes you. Studying at Berkeley is one of the most enriching experiences you can have—and don’t stress, everything will work out ✨

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